Business Directories

Drive to support parents of young children

Abu Dhabi, January 2, 2014

Abu Dhabi-based Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation will host a series of parenting workshops in collaboration with Yale University, in effort to support and empower parents of young children in the UAE.

The workshops, which will run from January 6 to May 6, are among the initiatives of the foundation based on the scientific research focused on 'Early Childhood Development' (ECD).

It will be conducted for two days each month by ECD experts from Yale University, who will present lectures and facilitate activities in a variety of formats for people who play an important role in the daily care and nurturance of a young child which includes parents, grandparents, other family members as well as professionals.

It is aimed at emphasising that parents’ love for, investment in and commitment to their children, leads to a greater likelihood the children will be well adjusted, happy and productive adults, said a statement.

The topics for the workshops include parents’ contributions to their child’s development, a child’s emotional intelligence, the father’s role in childcare, health habits, and best practices for setting limits with children.

Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, leader and founder of the fellowship programme, said: “The purpose of the workshops is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and best practices that promote healthy outcomes for children and their caregivers.”

“Along with the identified topics of importance for parents, we will also conduct focus group discussions so we can understand more the motivation of parents to participate in parenting programmes, the cultural understanding of parenting and contextual conditions for feasibility of implementation,” she said.

The first workshop is scheduled for January 6 and 7 in Abu Dhabi and Al Aim, where an expert will discuss ‘Nurturing Our Children: How Parents Support their Child’s Development.’

Dr Nancy Close, associate director of Yale Program in Early Childhood Education, said: “Children’s early interactions with their parents have a significant impact on their social-emotional and cognitive development.”

“Parents support a child’s exploration of the world; provide refuge when a child is overwhelmed, frightened or wants comfort. Thus, it is imperative that parents should be aware of and understand how they can support the development of resilience and competence in their children,” she added. - TradeArabia News Service